Title - The Hindu : NATIONAL / TAMIL NADU : Podanur -Pollachi, Pollachi -Palakkad sections remain neglected

Podanur -Pollachi, Pollachi -Palakkad sections remain neglected

With the introduction of train services between Dindigul – Palani section after gauge conversion, the Podanur -Pollachi and Pollachi – Palakkad sections have become islands in the rail network.

Coimbatore had direct rail connectivity with the South with meter gauge line for 160 km from Coimbatore to Madurai laid in 1920 and this helped in operating a train between Coimbatore and Rameswaram.

Train services from Coimbatore were terminated at Madurai, when the Madurai – Rameswaram line was taken up for gauge conversion.

In May 2006, meter gauge train services were terminated at Podanur instead of Coimbatore and services were operated from Podanur. In May 2009, even the Coimbatore – Madurai services were terminated taking up the line for enabling the gauge conversion of the entire section.

This resulted in Western Tamil Nadu losing its rail connectivity with the Southern Tamil Nadu.

The sections taken up for gauge conversion were Podanur – Pollachi – Udumalpet – Palani – Dindigul and Pollachi – Palakkad for about 225 km and the initial cost fixed at Rs. 559 crore escalated to Rs. 900 crore because of the delay in completing the project. Now, the 58 km long Dindigul – Palani section had been completed and train services had begun after a gap of three-and-a-half years.

Even the works in respect of Palani – Pollachi section, for about 58 km, are nearing completion and the services are likely to begin by March 2013. But, the nearly 40 km long gauge conversion between Podanur – Pollachi and 55 km long section between Pollachi – Palakkad are yet to be completed, while the former is pending because of delay in acquisition of lands for nearly six km on either side of Kinathukkadavu section and the latter is pending because of contractual failure.

These two sections remain an island in railway network.

Meanwhile, efforts are also on by political parties, trade and industrial bodies to get revival of stations at Chettipalayam, Nallatipalayam and Koilpalayam on the Podanur – Pollachi section because Southern Railway has given only one stop at Kinathukkadavu. There is also demand for revival of Thippampatti and Poolankinaru stations on the Pollachi – Udumalpet section.

Given the pace of land acquisition, the works in respect of Podanur – Pollachi is likely to go up to 2013 end. As a result of the delay, Coimbatore has lost its rail connectivity with Southern Tamil Nadu and the Erode – Karur – Dindigul and Karur – Tiruchirapalli sections are witnessing congestion.

While the MDMK was consistently on a campaign for getting these works speeded up, Coimbatore Railway Struggle Committee is getting ready to meet the Union Railway Minister and Railway Board Chairman on December 5 for getting some greater impetus for these projects.

Efforts on by political parties to revive stations at Chettipalayam, Nallatipalayam and Koilpalayam

Coimbatore Railway Struggle Committee to meet Union Railway Minister on December 5